Washington, DC – Today Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) made the following statement on the news that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will grant a permit request to complete the Dakota Access Pipeline, reversing an earlier decision by the Obama Administration to explore alternative routes for the pipeline.

“It is imperative that the federal government meaningfully consult with tribes, on a nation-to-nation basis when considering projects like the Dakota Access Pipeline, which will impact tribal lands and resources. I have tremendous respect for the heroic stand taken by tribal members and their allies in North Dakota. It is the people living in these areas who will truly be impacted by the pipeline and their concerns should be heard. There continue to be serious questions about the Dakota Access pipeline, especially its threat to historically and culturally significant tribal places, the trust lands of tribal nations, and the waters that run through them. I will continue to push the federal government to take tribal perspectives into account when considering projects as disruptive as the Dakota Access Pipeline.”